Pine Tree High School sophomore Shaun Naseiro has been selected to represent Pine Tree High School at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership in Denton the second week in June.

HOBY empowers high school sophomores to recognize their leadership talents and apply them to become effective, ethical leaders in their homes, schools and communities. Naseiro will attend a three or four-day seminar to participate in hands-on leadership activities, meet leaders in the sate, and explore their personal leadership skills.

Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.

HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students. HOBY programs provide students selected by their schools to participate in unique leadership training, service-learning and motivation-building experiences.

HOBY also provides adults with opportunities to make a significant impact on the lives of youth by volunteering. Over 4,000 committed HOBY volunteers plan and execute the programs each year, serving both at the local HOBY affiliate level and on HOBY’s Board of Trustees. Due to the selfless efforts of volunteers and the contributions of generous donors, nearly 10,000 students participate in HOBY programs annually.

Pine Tree ISD families are invited to three nights of learning together as PTISD offers engineering challenges to all students in grades 6-8. The dates of the event are February 10, March 3 and April 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Pine Tree Junior High Cafetorium.

Monday, January 30, 2017

The Pine Tree ISD Student Services in partnership with the PT PTA and Partners in Prevention will host a parent/community meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2017.
The meeting will be in the Community Center and will begin at 6:00 pm after the PTA Meeting scheduled for 5:30pm.

The meeting focus is on Human Trafficking, Drugs, and Gangs. Sekettia Brantley of PIP East Texas Anti Trafficking Team (ETATT) will lead the presentation. I hope you will be able to join us. Thank you from the Pine Tree Independent School District.

On Friday, January 27, the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering East Texas Chapter held their Divisional Competition at the Abbott Aviation Center of LeTourneau University.Twenty-three PTISD students worked with local engineers and LETU students and professors in an experience that connected grade school to local college and career opportunities. The students took a tour of Abbott Aviation Center, saw simulation rooms, lab rooms, and real planes used for learning how to become pilots. They were given the opportunity to learn about the state of the art drone program at LETU and ask questions of professors and students becoming aeronautical, mechanical and electrical engineers. Local engineers from community partners Eastman and Joy Global spoke to the students about local career opportunities and served as judges for the students' engineering design challenge. The competition phase of the event included students testing on math and science knowledge and joining with other students to complete an engineering design challenge. Below are the winners of the competition. Of these winners, students will be selected to attend TAME State Competition later in the spring.

Math and Science Winners

6th grade: 1st place - Grant Beakley

7th grade: 5th place: Imar Dar

4th place: Ethan Morgan

3rd place: Kaleb Hogue

2nd place: Bryce Willadson

1st Place: Issac Tesser

8th grade: 6th place: DeAundre Heath

5th place: Bernice Juarez

4th place: Pedro Montano

3rd place: Zachary Russell

2nd place: Ira Roberts

1st Place: Jann Cabudoy

9th grade: 6th place: Saldalvia Wallace

5th place: Westley Phillps

4th place: Itzel Lara

3rd place: Mercedes Estrada

2nd place: Jessica Hosmer

1st Place: Sterling Beakley

11th grade: 3rd place: Jennifer Ibarra

2nd place: Andres Serrano

1st Place: Randy Phan

Engineering Design Challenge Winners

Judge's Choice -

Samantha Hosmer

Ira Roberts

Kaleb Hogue

Pedro Montano

3rd Place -

Jessica Hosmer

Ethan Morgan

Grant Beakley

Iman Dar

2nd Place -

Samantha Hosmer

Ira Roberts

Kaleb Hogue

Pedro Montano

1st Place -

Sterling Beakley

Westley Phillips

Zachary Russell

Congratulations to all our winners!

A special thank you to David Tesser of LETU for helping to coordinate the event at LETU. We appreciate this first rate experience for our students and look forward to growing the partnership between PTISD and LETU and a special thank you to Eastman and Joy Global for helping coordinate volunteers to work with our students at the event.

Pine Tree ISD will participate in the 2017 East Texas Divisional STEM Competition Friday, January 27 at LeTourneau University's Abbott Aviation Center located at the Gregg County Airport. This is the TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) regional competition.

Pine Tree ISD is the only district in East Texas to participate. The Engineering Challenge will begin at 5:10 p.m.

TAME offers opportunities to students that many other programs do not. This program centers around exposing students to the problem solving skills needed to be a successful engineer and to build the math and science skills necessary engineering course work. The program reinforces math and science skills, has students practice the skills in a testing environment and complete an engineering design challenge with other students reinforcing 21st century skills needed for the workplace.

At this year's competition, students will be tested in the math and science course in which they are currently enrolled. This will be followed by an Engineering Design Challenge in which students will work as teams to complete an engineering design challenge.

1st -3rd place awards will be given to students in the math and science tests in each grade level 6-12.1st - 3rd place awards will be given in the Engineering Design Challenge along with the Judge's Choice Award.

Pine Tree Junior High students will participate in The Great Kindness Challenge the week of January 23-27. This week is designated to teach students about how spreading kindness is easier than spreading hate.

The PTJH No Place for Hate committee is challenging PTJH students to participate in as many acts of kindness that they can.

G-TEK (Girls, Guys and Geeks) is a new group at Pine Tree High that helps promote engineering and computer science careers. After school, students meet to learn more about the latest technology and hands-on design challenges. The hope is that by showing students first hand the incredible projects engineers work on, more students will pursue careers in these high demand fields. Although all students can join, this group is targeted at increasing minorities and women in engineering.

Recently, Pine Tree students visited LeTourneau University for a half day trip, where Dr. Ayers, Engineering Chair, gave the students an introduction to many different types of engineering including mechanical, civil, biomedical, and aerospace. G-TEK students learned how engineers can save lives designing everything from cancer-detecting-cell-phones to strengthening bridges.

Students also visited Texas State Technical College for the day to learn about Biomedical and Industrial Control majors. Eastman Chemical also hosted the students explaining some of the science behind chemical engineering and the jobs available.

Students look forward to participating in a TAME engineering challenge the end of February, and designing roller coasters for an "Amusement Park Physics" project at the Perot Center in Dallas.

"We have world class universities, employers and museums if not in Longview, within a few hours drive. We want our students to see what the very best of the best looks like, so they can aim high. Also, we hope the students stay in this club for all 4 years of high school, allowing them the opportunity to start visiting colleges as a freshman." said Elizabeth White, sponsor.

Pine Tree ISD will participate in the 2017 East Texas Divisional STEM Competition Friday, January 27 at LeTourneau University's Abbott Aviation Center located at the Gregg County Airport. This is the TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) regional competition. Pine Tree ISD is the only district in East Texas to participate.

TAME offers opportunities to students that many other programs do not. This program centers around exposing students to the problem solving skills needed to be a successful engineer and to build the math and science skills necessary engineering course work. The program reinforces math and science skills, has students practice the skills in a testing environment and complete an engineering design challenge with other students reinforcing 21st century skills needed for the workplace.

At this year's competition, students will be tested in the math and science course in which they are currently enrolled. This will be followed by an Engineering Design Challenge in which students will work as teams to complete an engineering design challenge.

1st -3rd place awards will be given to students in the math and science tests in each grade level 6-12.1st - 3rd place awards will be given in the Engineering Design Challenge along with the Judge's Choice Award.

The Pine Tree HS Jazz band will perform tonight at the City of Longview MLK Jazz Concert featuring George Faber & Friends. The event will be held at the East Texas Builders Association & Event Center, 2023 Alpine Road. Tickets are $10. Pine Tree will take the stage at 6;30 p.m.

Come out and enjoy an evening of fabulous jazz music in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Congratulations to Pine Tree Jazz, under the direction of Mr. Mark Melton, for being invited back for the 2nd year for this great event!

Monday, January 9, 2017

Sixteen Pine Tree High School Band students competed at the TMEA Area C Competition Saturday, January 7th at Richardson Berkner High School.

Congratulations to Cristian Najera, Senior, who was selected for the TMEA 6A All-State Band and to Gage Ellis, Sophomore, who was selected for the 5A All-State Band. Both students are returning for the 2nd year in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment!

Four additional students were selected as 1st alternates, which means the students could be called up if an absence occurs:

"Due to recent TMEA re-alignments, Region IV students now compete against all of the top-performing Dallas-area schools. The fact that six of our students placed so high is a testament to their hard work and dedication. These students practice before school, during band class, during lunch, after school, and in the evenings with private lessons in order to be competitive at this level. Thank you to Pine Tree ISD for continuing its efforts in supporting students that desire to reach very high goals." - Mark Melton, Director of Fine Arts

Thursday, January 5, 2017

The Boys & Girls Club of Gregg County will merge with the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines and will be partnering with three Longview school districts that will open 12 campus after-school sites beginning January 9.

Pine Tree athletes Michaela Patterson and Mary McQuaid have been selected to the academic all state teams through two organizations - the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) and Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA)

Chelsea Chadwick was named Academic All State through THSCA and was named to the 1st team for the East Texas Preps Volleyball Team. Alexis Wiley was also named to the 1st team.

Chadwick and Wiley were also named to the East Texas Sports Networks Volleyball Super Team. Chadwick made the 2nd Team and Wiley was selected to the Honorable Mention Team.

Longview Regional Medical Center will host a FREE heart screening for teens ages 14-18 on February 18, 2017. Full descriptions of the screening process can be found on the Championship Hearts website. Click here for more information.

DETAILS

Free Student Heart Screening

Saturday, February 18, 2017

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Longview Regional Medical Center

2901 North 4th Street

Longview, TX 75605

The free heart screening includes both a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and a limited echocardiogram (ECHO) to detect potential heart conditions. These are non-invasive and painless tests, completed in just minutes. Local volunteer cardiologists will provide immediate results to parents/teens.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Get your teen athlete signed up for a heart screening and select an arrival time....just click below.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

January is School Board Recognition Month and Pine Tree ISD will join other districts across the state to thank these local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for our children and public schools. As elected officials, they are the voice of their communities, serving first and foremost in the best interest of Texas schoolchildren.

"Even though we are making a special effort in January to show appreciation to our board members, we realize their many contributions reflect a year-round commitment. They generously give of themselves to ensure that decisions directly affecting our local schools are made by representatives of this community, people who are close to our schools and know our teachers, parents, and students," said Dr. TJ Farler, PTISD Superintendent.

"Board members shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices. Their ultimate goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district," Farler said. "It's more important than ever before that the public support our schools so that today's students are prepared to be productive citizens and the leaders of tomorrow. Our board members provide vision and leadership in their roles as advocates, and they will continue to stand up for public education and guard against anything that takes away from our children,"she said.

PTISD Board Members:

Dr. Kerri Daugbjerg, President

Amy Brown, Vice President

Jim Cerrato, Secretary

Adam Graves

Pat Noon

Anthony Tanner

Frank Richards

PTISD board members will be recognized Monday evening, January 9 with a board appreciation dinner provided by the PTISD Child Nutrition department. Campus and district departments will recognize board members during the regular scheduled board meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Papa John's Pizza wants to make a date with PT Pirates the second Tuesday of each month.

When customers order lunch or dinner from Papa John's the second Tuesday of each month, 20% of total sales that day benefits the foundation. Simply mention Pine Tree ISD when ordering your favorite pizza!

It's a fun and delicious day to raise money for the PT Education Foundation.

Carmen Dowdy, Pine Tree ISD Math and Science Coordinator for Grades 5-8, has been chosen to represent Region 7 on the TEKS Resource System District Advisory Committee

Dowdy, in addition to state and leadership team members from ESC's across the state, will have the opportunity to network with other administrators from TEKS RS districts and hear updates on TEKS Resource System development at the state level. Dowdy was chosen for her extensive knowledge of curriculum and deep understanding of the importance of a guaranteed and viable curriculum to a district's success.